"Are the Shades of Goderic's Hollow to be thus polluted?!" (was: A new thou

[i_am_erasmas]

No: HPFGUIDX 44609

> 
> Bugaloo37:
> >>I have never noticed any condescension on the part of Molly or 
> Arthur Weasley. In fact, in CoS, they are very considerate and 
> helpful to Hermione's parents. IMO, you certainly cannot 
> compare the Weasleys behavior to that of the Malfoys-father and 
> son. Condescension, IMO, is a type of snobbery. I simply have 
> not noticed anything but down-to-earth, thoughtful, kind-hearted 
> responses to Muggles or Muggle-borns from the Weasley 
> parents. If you would, please provide some examples of this 
> condescension. I am eager to discover anything I 
> have overlooked in my reading.<<
> 

Me: I have to agree with Bugaloo here. But then again I'm a big fan 
of the whole Weasley family. 

Pippin:

> 	The Weasleys are indeed not comparable to the Malfoys. They 
> don't want to hurt or terrorize Muggles. But that doesn't mean that 
> the Weasleys' ethnocentricity never shades into insensitivity or 
> ethnic superiority. Molly's very first line in PS/SS, "Packed with 
> Muggles, of course," establishes that she considers Muggles to 
> be  Other, and a nuisance as well. Her remark about the 
> stretched interior of the car, "Muggles *do* know more than we 
> give them credit for, don't they?" also shows a sense of 
> superiority.

Me (Erasmas):
There is a huge difference between seeing others as different and 
seeing yourself as superior. I don't know where you get the idea that 
Molly is finding the muggles to be a nuisance. To me it's just an 
observation. The key part of that scene is that Harry recognises that 
there is a witch nearby. He may not have found and followed them 
unless someone was talking. They're in a busy section of muggle 
london, so it seems natural that one of them is commenting on how 
many muggles are around. 

Pippin:
> As for Mr. Weasley, at his first sight of the Grangers, he says, 
> "But you're *Muggles*" as if it never occured to him  that 
> Ron might have a Muggle-born friend, and then he actually grabs 
> Molly's hand and points at them. 

Me (Erasmas):
The tone I had in my head as I read this was Arthur being delighted 
to run into some muggles that he could talk freely with. 

Pippin:
>It also never occurs to him that 
> the Grangers might want to do something with their limited time 
> in the wizarding world besides have a drink with him (and 
> answer all his questions about Muggle life.)

Me (Erasmas):
Ummmm ... I have no idea where this comes from. Why shouldn't he 
invite them for a drink? If everyone acted as you seem to be 
suggesting, nobody would ever make any friends. The full quote 
is: '"But you're Muggles!" said Mr. Weasley delightedly. "We must 
have a drink!"' To me that sounds like a welcoming invitation. 

> 
> It sounds condescending to me that he says, "Bless them" 
> whenever he talks about Muggle shortsightedness. He doesn't 
> talk that way about the  House Elves, for example. And his 
> Muggle Protection Act is no doubt well-intended, but we don't 
> usually talk about protecting those we consider  equals.
> 
Me (Erasmas)
Equality isn't the issue here. Arthur is fascinated by muggles and 
concerned for their welfare. The muggle and wizarding worlds need to 
coexist, and the reason there are things like muggle protection acts 
in the wizarding world, and there aren't wizarding protection acts in 
the muggle world, is that wizards in general are aware that muggles 
exist. Muggles in general don't know wizards exist. If they did, I'm 
quite sure there would be an even greater need for a wizard 
protection act in muggle law. There's plenty of Dursley like 
attitudes in the muggle world that there would be no shortage of 
muggles that want to stamp out all that wizarding nonsense. 

Pippin:
> I don't think Arthur and Molly do any of this consciously, but I 
also 
> don't think they're quite as accepting of Muggles as they think 
> they are.

I think the big difference here is the tone of voice that we hear in 
our heads as we're reading the same story. If the voices in your head 
are speaking condescendingly, then your take on the characters is 
that they are condescending. 

Erasmas